Closed Head Injuries

Orlando, Florida

When a driver is hit by another car driving 45 mph or more, in an instant, the victims brain moves from a rate of speed of 45 miles per hour to zero. The brain is propelled against the hard skull squishing the tissues tearing the blood vessels. The brain bleeds with no place to go within the hard brittle skull. Pressure builds within this closed head injury causing critical areas in the brain to stop working. The pressure from the traumatic brain injury can affect breathing and/or heart rate leading to a life or death situation within hours after the accident.

The injury can be deceiving. Victims of closed head injuries may seem fine immediately after the accident, walking and talking normally. But, within a short period of time, they start to experience symptoms of confusion and may even lapse into a coma.

The symptoms depend on the extent and location of the injury and can be subtle or major in nature.

• Cognitive symptoms:
• Short or long term memory deficits
• Difficulties concentrating, learning
• Struggles with attention, perception, judgment, planning
• Problems with communication, reading and writing
• Physical issues:
• Impaired speech, hearing, vision
• Headaches, dizziness, vertigo
• Sexual dysfunction
• Muscle spasms, seizures
• Paralysis
• Behavioral problems
• Personality changes
• Mood swings, restless
• Fatigue, anxiety, depression
• Inability to cope, agitated, unmotivated
• Excessive crying or laughing

Head injuries can have a devastating impact on the victim, their family and their community. Here are some disturbing statistics about traumatic brain injury in our country:

• 7,000,000 head injuries occur annually in the United States
• 500,000 individuals are admitted to hospitals for head injuries each year
• One in every 220 people in the US is suffering from the effects of a head injury
• Males sustain nearly two times as many head injuries as females
• Motor vehicle accidents cause nearly one-half of all head injuries
• Head injuries occur in more than two-thirds of all automobile accidents

Prevention is the best defense, especially on our highways. Here are some ideas to keep you and your loved ones safe on Americas roadways:

• Use seatbelts and support legislation requiring protective restraints including headgear for motorcyclists and bicyclists
• Drive within the speed limit
• Dont drink and drive and support legislation that enforces drunk driving laws
• Wear protective headgear when participating in all group and adventure sports including: baseball, football, skiing and bicycling

In Orlando, Florida, if you are a victim of a traumatic brain injury due to someone elses neglect, please contact the personal injury lawyers at Colling, Gilbert, Wright & Carter. Well get the financial compensation you and your family deserves to cover your medical bills, loss of wages and pain and suffering.